Dilution of a layered antiferromagnet: Magnetism in $Mn_xZn_{1-x}PS_3$

Abstract

The magnetic properties of the layered antiferromagnet $MnPS_3$ have been studied as a function of dilution with zinc. The magnetic susceptibility of $Mn_xZn_{1-x}PS_3$can be accounted for reasonably well by a randomly diluted antiferromagnetic honeycomb lattice. For compositions above the percolation threshold the suceptibility was calculated using the high-temperature series expansion (HTSE) for a dilute magnetic lattice. For compositions below the percolation threshold uncompensated spins of the finite Mn clusters give rise to an additional Curie correction to the HTSE which is maximum near the $p_c$